Many of us moved partly to give our parents a better old age. We imagined Mummy in a warm winter coat at a grandchild’s graduation, and Daddy complaining about Canadian pepper. For now, the main way to sponsor them for permanent residence is closed.

What happened

IRCC is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) and is not sending new invitations to apply. In a July 2026 notice it said the pause would last until further notice. No reopening date has been announced. Some reports say new intake was already frozen at the start of 2026, so check the official IRCC page for the current status.

What has not changed

If your application is already in the system, it is still being processed. Reports put about 60,500 applications in the queue, with processing times of roughly 33 months, or longer in Quebec. Canada still plans to admit about 15,000 parents and grandparents as permanent residents in 2026, all from applications already received.

The program is closed to new applicants for now, but families still have options.

The Super Visa is still open

For most families, the realistic option right now is the Super Visa. It does not lead to permanent residence, but it allows long visits:

Stays of up to five years per entry, on a visa that can be valid for up to ten years.
Private medical insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year.
An income requirement for you as the host, based on the Low Income Cut-Off for your household size.
An immigration medical exam for your parent or grandparent.

Your family playbook

1. If you submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020, keep your contact details and documents up to date. Invitations have come from that pool before.

2. Get quotes for Super Visa insurance early. Premiums vary a lot with age and health, and that is usually the largest cost.

3. Check your income against the threshold now. Find out whether a spouse’s income can count toward it.

4. Ignore rumours about reopening dates. Follow IRCC directly, and be wary of anyone charging to “reserve a spot.” There is no such thing.

Has your mum or dad visited on a Super Visa? We want to hear about it at stories@gathermedia.ca. This article is general information, not legal advice.